What is MS?

Multiple Sclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that damages the insulating material that surrounds the nerve fibers in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves of the eyes.  The insulating material is called myelin or the myelin sheath and when the sheath is damaged, scars called scleroses result.  The scleroses can be seen with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 

The nerves are like wires that interconnect the different parts of your brain, and connect your brain to the rest of your body.  The scleroses or gaps in the insulation of that wiring may not cause any symptoms.  But if and when demyelination and inflammation occur in sensitive areas or to a degree for which the nervous system cannot compensate, symptoms result.  Symptoms that occur and then partially or fully resolve are often called relapses, exacerbations, or attacks.  For example if your optic nerve is affected, you may have temporary loss of vision.  If nerves controlling movement in your leg are affected, you may experience weakness in that leg or poor control in the muscles of your leg. 

Your first warning signs of developing MS likely included some or all of the following:

• Numbness
• Tingling sensations
• Blurred vision
• Dizziness
• Generalized fatigue
• Weakness of the legs
• Slurred speech

The confirmation of the diagnosis may have included:

• Two or more exacerbations or attacks
• MRI
• Examination of spinal fluid and evoked potentials for visual, auditory, and sensory responses

Self-care activities such as the ability to feed, dress and go to the without assistance may have been evaluated, as well as your ability to walk with or without support.  These evaluations help healthcare providers determine whether an individual with MS is stable or worsening.